Utilizing an A3 Report Format for a Technical Review at the End of a Cornerstone Design Course

The goal of this paper is to demonstrate the advantages of implementing an alternative technical review technique in an engineering design course. Historically formal design reviews associated with the Cornerstone Design course have utilized a Power Point type of presentation for evaluation of a design project status. A case study will be presented involving the use of a project summary report for a comprehensive design project review based on a Toyota management communication tool known as the “A3 Report”. The objectives for utilizing the this report format as an alternative to the presentation format were to require project team members to integrate their individual sub-system designs into their final system proposal, identify the critical aspects of their design, and prepare for detailed questions regarding their design. Conclusions and recommendations from the perspective of both the instructors and the students will be presented, including points of concern with the implementation.